No government should clampdown on information if citizens communicate their grievances on social media, the Supreme Court said on Friday. The apex court has also warned the government that such harassment of citizens will be treated as contempt.
“It is grave concern to me as a citizen or judge. If citizens communicate their grievances on social media, we do not want clampdown on information. Let us hear the voices of citizens. We will treat this as contempt if any citizen is harassed if they want bed or oxygen. We are in human crisis,” Justice DY Chandrachud said during a hearing on Friday.
The apex court also questioned the government’s rationale behind two prices for Centre and states to procure the vaccine at a time when India is preparing to widen vaccine coverage to all adults above 18 years of age.
“Why is the government not buying 100 per cent of doses produced in this time? Why should there be two prices for the centre and the states… what is the rationale,” the Supreme Court asked.
While increased vaccine coverage starts on Saturday, states like Sikkim, Assam, Tripura, Meghalaya, Delhi, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and others highlighted shortage of vaccine.
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